Back to results
US 9,797,291 B2Granted
Flange assembly and related methods of connecting two exhaust pipes together with a flange assembly
AssigneeHoerbiger Finestamping Inc.
InventorsWayne Eadie, Jay Church, John Trihenea
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flange assembly and related methods of connecting two exhaust pipes together with a flange assembly are provided. The flange assembly includes a first flange having a first mating face and a second flange connected to the first flange, wherein the second flange has a second mating face. A sealing structure is formed with the mating faces of the first and second flanges, wherein the sealing structure comprises a groove positioned on the first mating face and a ridge positioned in the second mating face, wherein the ridge occupies at least a portion of the groove with the first flange connected to the second flange.
Claims20
A flange assembly comprising:
- a first flange having:
- a first mating face having at least one groove defined therein at least partially about a first central aperture of the first flange;
- and
- a first face located opposite the first mating face and having:
- a first tubular extension extending therefrom and configured to engage an exterior of a first pipe when that first pipe is coupled with the first central aperture of the first flange;
- and
- at least one ridge defined thereat at least partially about the first central aperture and the first tubular extension;
- a second flange having:
- a second mating face having at least one ridge defined thereat at least partially about a second central aperture of the second flange;
- and
- a second face located opposite the second mating face and having:
- a second tubular extension extending therefrom and configured to engage an exterior of a second pipe when that second pipe is coupled with the second central aperture of the second flange;
- and
- at least one groove defined therein at least partially about the second central aperture and the second tubular extension;
- wherein the first and second flanges are configured to interface with one another such that the at least one ridge of the second mating face of the second flange at least partially occupies the at least one groove of the first mating face of the first flange.
12 more elements
An exhaust flange apparatus comprising:
- a first flange having a first central aperture at least partially surrounded by a first tubular extension, wherein a first exhaust pipe is connectable to the first tubular extension of the first flange with a central axis of the first exhaust pipe positioned substantially concentric with a central axis of the first central aperture;
- a second flange having a second central aperture at least partially surround by a second tubular extension, wherein a second exhaust pipe is connectable to the second tubular extension of the second flange with a central axis of the second exhaust pipe positioned substantially concentric with a central axis of the second central aperture;
- a plurality of sealing structures interfaced between mating faces of the first and second flanges, wherein each of the plurality of sealing structures has a groove positioned on one of the first and second flanges and a ridge positioned on another of the first and second flanges, wherein each of the plurality of sealing structures is positioned at least partially around the first and second central apertures of the first and second flanges, respectively;
- at least one ridge provided on a first non-mating face of one of either the first or second flange;
- at least one groove provided on a second non-mating face of another of either the first or second flange;
- and
- at least one fastener connecting the first and second flanges.
4 more elements
A method of connecting two exhaust pipes together with a flange assembly, the method comprising:
- connecting a first exhaust pipe to a first tubular extension of a first flange having a first mating surface including at least two grooves positioned therein, and a first surface opposite the first mating surface and including at least one ridge positioned thereon, wherein a first central aperture of the first flange is substantially concentric with the first exhaust pipe;
- connecting a second exhaust pipe to a second tubular extension of a second flange having a second mating surface including at least two ridges positioned thereon, and a second surface opposite the second mating surface and including at least one groove positioned therein, wherein a second central aperture of the second flange is substantially concentric with the second exhaust pipe;
- inserting, respectively, the at least two ridges of the second mating surface into the at least two grooves of the first mating surface;
- and
- fastening the first flange to the second flange with at least one fastener.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.